Sliding shoe for a closure member



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 III: III.

1964 s. w. LINDSTEDT SLIDING SHOE FOR A CLOSURE MEMBER Filed April 12,1962 Nov. 17, 1964 s. w. LINDSTEDT SLIDING SHOE FOR A CLOSURE MEMBER 5Sheets-Sheet 2 7' A7 [bf /W dubfl $3....

Filed April 12, 1962 Nov. 17, 1964 s. w. LlNDSTEDT SLIDING SHOE- FOR ACLOSURE MEMBER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 12, 1962 Stuart 14pbLYLddtedj A 144 m, am

United States Patent 3,155,955 SLIDWG SHOE E33 A ULGSURE MEMBER StuartW. Llndstedt, llelvidere, IlL, assignor to Amer-och Corporation,luckier-"d, Ill, a corporation of lliinois Filed Apr. 12, 1962, Ser. No.187,953 19 Claims. (til. 2tl-42) This invention relates to a slidingshoe for a closure member such as the sash of a so-called awning windowwhich slides in a frame as it swings back and forth and, moreparticularly, to a shoe which slides along a track and forms part of ahinge for guiding the window as it is opened and closed.

When such windows are to be opened manually simply by pushing outwardlyon the free edge of the sash, it is desirable to provide a relativelyhigh amount of frictional resistance between the shoe and the track sothat the sash will be held fractionally in a selected position in theframe. In some instances, however, an operator is provided to open andclose the window and hold it in selected partially open positions. Underthese circumstances, high friction is not required and, further, isundesirable because it increases the effort required to open and closethe window.

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide anovel shoe of the above character which is adaptable quickly and easilyfor use with or without an operator and which, at the same time, issimple and inexpensive in construction.

A more detailed object is to form the shoe withspaced bearings forguiding the shoe along the track with a free sliding action, and tomount a spring on the shoe in a novel manner such that the spring urgesone bearing into frictional engagement with the track and is removablefrom the shoe to reduce the friction.

The invention also resides in the novel form and mounting of the springnormally to hold the same on the shoe while permitting its removaltherefrom without disasernbling the hinge.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspectiveview of an awning window including a hinge embodying the novel featuresof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken along the line 22of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line Is -3 ofFIG. 2.

FlG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the hinge shownin FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the shoe.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG.3.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line '77 of FIG.3.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken the line 88 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken the line 9-9 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken the line ill-ill of FIG.3.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken the line 11-11 of MG. 3.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken the line 12-43. of FIG. 2.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to the lower portion of FIG. 12 with the partsin a different condition.

FIG. 14 is a perspective View of the spring.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of part of th shoe.

While the invention is applicable to closure members along along alongalong along "ice 2 of various types, it is shown in the drawings forpurposes of illustration in conjunction with a so-called awning window(FIG. 1) in which a sash 1t slides vertically in a frame ii andsimultaneously swings about a horizontal axis extending along the upperedge 12 of the sash. Connecting the sash to the frame for such movementis a hinge 13 including a sash link 14 extending along and fastened tothe side edge 15 of the sash, and a second link 1'7 pivotally connectedat one end to the sash link intermediate the upper and lower edges ofthe sash by a pin 113 (PEG. 1). The other end of the second link ispivoted at i on the frame adjacent the sill 20.

Fulcrumed on the upper end of the sash link 14 by means of a pin 21 is ashoe 22 which slides along a vertical track 23 mounted on the side ofthe frame to guide the upper edge 2 for sliding upwardly and downwardlyin the frame. Preferably, a hinge of this type is mounted on each sideof the sash.

Each of the tracks 23 comprises an elongated channel extending along oneedge of an elongated bar 24 mounted on the side of the frame by suitablefasteners such as screws (FIGS. 1 and 2), the channel being formed by arail 27 integral with the bar and projecting laterally from the edge ofthe bar, an integral flange 28 extending across the bar from the outeredge of the rail 27, and a second rail 29 carried by the flange andextending toward the first rail 27 with the free edge 30 of the secondrail spaced from the bar as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the opposed surfacesof the two rails being parallel.

The shoes are form-ed with first and second bearings 31 and 32 (FIG. 2)laterally spaced apart and each facing one of the rails 27, 29 to bearagainst the latter and guide the shoes along the tracks. A flat plate 33carried by the shoe with one side of the plate projecting out of thechannel through the space between the rail edge 36 and the bar 24carries the pin 21 for pivoting the shoe on the sash link 14.

With this arrangement, the window may be opened by pushing outwardly onthe lower edge of the sash which thus swings outwardly about thehorizontal axis defined by the pins 21. During such swinging, the sashalso swings counterclockwise (FIG. 1) about a horizontal axis defined bythe pins 18 joining the links 14 and 17. Thus, the upper edge 12 and theshoes 22 slide downwardly along the tracks as the sash swings outwardlythereby opening the window at both the top and the bottom.

When the window is to be opened and closed simply by swinging the sashby hand, it is desirable to provide frictional resistance to sliding ofthe shoes along the tracks so that the sash will remain in a selectedpartially open position in the frame. In some instances, however, amechanical operator (not shown) is used with a window of this type toswing the sash back and forth. Such operators, which are well known inthe art, hold the sash in selected partially open positions in the frameas well as in the fully open and closed positions. Thus, frictionalresistance is unnecessary and, in fact, is undesirable because itincreases the effort required to open and close the window.

Accordingly, the present invention contemplates the provision of a novelshoe 22 for use in a hinge 13 of this type which shoe is adaptablequickly and easily for use with or without an operator, that is, toprovide sufficient frictional resistance to hold the sash in place wherean operator is not used and, after a simple modification, provide agreatly reduced amount of friction so that the hinge is better suitedfor use with an operator. For these purposes, the bearing surfaces 31and 32 are spaced to provide a guided free-sliding action of the shoe,and a spring 35 is removably mounted in a novel manner on the shoe toact between the shoe and one of the rails 2?, 29 and urge the shoe intofrictional engagement with the 3 other rail thereby to provide thedesired high friction. To reduce the friction, the spring simply isremoved from the shoe whereupon the latter slides freely along thetrack.

To achieve these ends, the lateral spacing between the bearings 31 and32 is made less than the spacing of the opposed surfaces of the rails 27and 29 for the free-sliding action of the bearings within the channel,and a backing is formed on the shoe and spaced behind the bearing 31.The spring 35 comprises an elongated strip bowed intermediate its endswith portions at the opposite ends of the bow engaging the backing andthe bow projecting outwardly beyond the bearing 31 to engage the rail 27and press the shoe toward the rail 29. Two abutments 37 and 38 rigidwith the shoe and engaging the outer side of the spring adjacent theopposite ends thereof normally hold the spring against the backing formovement with the shoe. The spring may be deformed around the abutments,however, and withdrawn endwise from the shoe.

In the present instance, the side edge of the plate 33 within thechannel is formed with a lip 39 (FIG. 15) of U-shaped cross-section (seeFIGS. 6 through 9 and 15) on which the bearings 31 and 32 are formed bymolding a body 36 composed of suitable plastic such as Zytel onto thelip 39. The latter is apertured at 40 (FIG. 15) and slotted at 41 sothat the plastic flows into the spaces in the lip and is joined securelythereto. As shown most clearly in FIG. 15, the slots 41 divide the freeedge portion of the lip into a plurality of fingers 42, 4-3, 44 and 45disposed in a plane normal to the plate. A block 47 (see FIGS. 4 and 9)of plastic integrally joined to the body is molded on the underside ofthe plate 33 and formed with a ridge 43 disposed adjacent the bar whenthe shoe is mounted in the channel.

The body 36 includes an elongated base 49 extending along the curvedportion of the lip 39 with one flat side sliding along the bar withinthe channel. At the upper end of this base is a block Stl of generallyrectangular cross-section molded on the finger 42 and having parallelside surfaces 31 and 32 constituting parts of the bearings 31 and 32respectively. Adjacent the other end of the base, a lug 51 is molded onthe finger 44 with a flat side surface 32 disposed in the plane of thesurface 32* to constitute another part of the bearing 32 and, on theother side of the base, a shoulder 52 (FIG. 4) is formed with a sidesurface 31 disposed in the plane of the surface 31 to complete thebearing 31. Thus, each bearing includes at least two surfaces spacedapart longitudinally of the shm to guide the latter in the channel. Thespacing between the surfaces 31 and 32 and the surfaces 31 and 32 isless than the spacing between the rails 27 and 29 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3and 12.

Herein, the spring 35 is formed with three bows 53, 54 and 55 spacedapart longitudinally of the spring. The spring is disposed between thefingers and the rail 27 to abut on one side against the fingers oragainst the plastic molded on the fingers, and each bow projectsoutwardly beyond the bearing 31 on the other side far enough to engagethe rail 27 and be flattened between the rail and the backing formed bythe fingers thereby to urge the shoe toward the other rail 29. To holdthe spring on the shoe as the latter slides in the channel, the upperend 57 of the spring is anchored in a seat comprising a downwardlyopening slot 58 in the block 5% having walls disposed on opposite sidesof the spring to hold the latter against lateral movement away from theshoe, the outer wall of the slot forming the abutment 37. A lug 59 ismolded on the lower end of the body to abut on one side against thelower end portion 619 of the spring and holds the latter against thebacking. Thus, the inner side of the lug 59 constitutes the abutment 38.The outer side 31 of the lug is disposed in the plane of the surfaces311* and 31 to form part of the bearing 31.

Just below the slot, the first bow 53 curves outwardly past the plane ofthe bearing 31 to engage the rail 27,

and then curves back inwardly to engage the second finger 4-3. Then, thesecond bow 54 curves outwardly from the finger 43 toward the rail 27 andback inwardly toward the finger 4-4. Instead of contacting the latter,the spring is flattened at 61 and then bends sharply inwardly at 62 tooverlie the upper end 63 of the lug 51. The lower bow 55 curvesoutwardly around the upper end of the lug and then inwardly to abutagainst the lower end 64 of the lug which thus constitutes part of thebacking for the spring.

initially, the upper and lower end portions 57 and 60 of the spring 35are disposed at an angle with each other, for example, an angle offifteen degrees, so that bending of the upper end of the spring into theplane of the notch 58 stresses the spring to hold the lower end againstthe abutment 38. The outer side of the lug 51 is set outwardly from theplane of the abutment 38 to increase the tension on the spring betweenthe lug and the abutment thereby to insure that the bow 55 is heldtightly against the opposite ends of the lug 51. A U-shaped bend 65 isformed in the spring just above the lug 59 to overlie the upper end 67thereof and provide a positive stop against downward sliding of thespring relative to the shoe. Because of the stressing of the springduring assembly, the bend 65 and the lug end 67 are held securely ininterlocking relation.

It will be seen that endwise sliding of the spring 35 upwardly relativeto the shoe is limited by the length of the slot 58 and the spacing ofthe upper end of the how 53 from the lower end of the block 5%, andendwise sliding in either direction is resisted by abutting engagementbetween the lower how 55 and the ends 63 and 64 of the lug 51. Toaccommodate the slight elongation of the spring which results from theflattening of the bows between the rail 27 and the backing as the shoeis inserted in the channel, the upper end of the spring is slidableendwise back and forth in the slot through a limited range.

With the spring mounted in this manner, the bows are flattened betweenthe rail 27 and the backing to press the shoe toward the rail 29 whenthe shoe is inserted in the channel. Thus, the spring engages the rail27 on the outer side of the shoe, herein at three points, and thebearing surfaces 32 and 32 frictionally engage the rail 29 on the innerside of the shoe. An additional bearing surface 32 is formed on theinner side of the shoe intermediate the ends of the latter by a beadmolded in the space between the fingers 43 and 44 to project inwardlytherefrom and lie in the plane of the surfaces 32 and 32 It will be seenthat the frictional resistance of the spring and the bearing 32 will besutficient to hold the shoe securely in any selected position along thetrack and thereby maintain the sash in any selected position in theframe. The flat side of the base 49 slides along the bar 24 and theopposite sides of the lugs 50, 51 and 59 slide along the flange 23 tocomplete the guiding of the shoe in the track.

When an operator is included during the initial installation of awindow, the spring 35 is omitted so that the shoe 22 slides freely inthe channel. Where the initial installation has been made for operationwithout an operator and a spring has been included, the spring isremoved if an operator is added later. To facilitate the changeover fromone condition to the other, the spring formed as described above isremovable from the shoe and the channel without the necessity ofcompletely disassembling the hinge 13.

For this purpose, the lower end of the channel is left open so that theshoe 22 may be slid into the position shown in FIGS. 3, ll, 12 and 13 inwhich the lower end of the shoe and the lower end of the spring projectbeyond the ends of the rails 27, 29. A stop 68 herein comprising thehead of a screw 69 (FIG. 11) driven into the frame through the bar 24 isdisposed in the path of the block 47 With the lower ends of the shoe andthe spring projecting below the channel, the upper side 67 of the lug 59is adjacent the open end of the channel and the bend 65 may be swung outof interlocking relation with the lug simply by swinging the end of thespring laterally to the right and away from the lug as shown in FIG. 13.Then, a downward force is applied to the spring to withdraw it from theshoe and the channel. This force results in outward bending of thespring at the upper end of the bow 55 where the latter bears against theupper end 63 of the lug 51 which preferably is beveled as shown in thedrawings to guide the spring outwardly as it moves downwardly. After thebend 62 clears the lug, the spring slides endwise out of the channel,the portion "iii between the bows 53 and 54 also being deformedoutwardly in passing over the lug 51. The lower end of the springpreferably is knurled at 71 to facilitate gripping thereof by a suitabletool such as pliers. After the spring has been removed, the bearings 31and 32 guide the shoe for free back and forth sliding in the channel.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that a hinge 13 including asimple and inexpensive shoe 22 of the type described above provideseither the relatively high frictional resistance desirable in oneapplication or the substantially friction-free, guided sliding preferredin the other, and may be adapted for one condition or the other quicklyand easily simply by removing the spring 35 from the shoe in the mannerdescribed.

I claim as my invention:

1. For use with a closure member slidable in a frame, the combinationof, an elongated track open at one end and adapted to be mounted on saidframe, said track having parallel rails opposing each other, anelongated shoe adapted to be connected to the closure member anddisposed between said rails to slide endwise along said track, said shoehaving first and second bearing surfaces laterally spaced apart and eachfacing one of said rails to guide the shoe along the track, the spacingbetween said surfaces being less than the spacing between said rails topermit free sliding of said shoe along said tract a backing on said shoespaced behind said first bearing surface, an elongated spring disposedbetween said backing and one of said rails and having a plurality ofbows along its length with said bows projecting outwardly beyond saidfirst bearing surface and frictionally engaging said one rail, said bowsbeing stressed between said backing and said one rail to urge saidsecond bearing surface into frictional engagement with the other rail, afirst lug formed on said shoe adjacent one end of said spring to engagethe outer side of the spring at a point spaced from said one end to holdthe latter against said backing, said shoe being formed with a slotadjacent to the other end of the spring opening toward said first lug toreceive and hold said other end, a bend in said spring extendingoutwardly to overlie and abut against said first lug on the side thereofclosest to said slot, a second lug on said shoe engaging the inner sideof one of said bows at points adjacent the ends of the bow, said springbeing stressed between said lugs to urge said one end toward said firstlug and said one bow toward said second lug thereby to interlock saidbend with the first lug and said one bow with the second lug, said shoebeing slidable in one direction along said track into a predeterminedposition in which one end of the spring projects outwardly through saidopen track end and said first lug is adjacent the open end, and a stopon said track engageable with said shoe when the latter is in saidpredetermined position thereby to prevent sliding of said shoe furtherthrough the open end, said spring being removable from the shoe in saidpredetermined position in response first to lateral bending of said oneend inwardly to swing said bend away from said first lug and then to anendwise force on said one end sufiicient to deform said one bow and pullthe latter past said second lug.

2. For use with a closure member slidable in a frame,

the combination of, an elongated track adapted to be mounted on saidframe and having parallel rails opposing each other, said track beingopen at one end, an elongated shoe adapted to be connected to theclosure member and disposed between said rails to slide endwise alongsaid track, said shoe providing first and second bearing surfaceslaterally spaced apart and each facing one of said rails, the spacingbetween said surfaces being less an the spacing between said rails topermit free sliding of the shoe along said track, a backing on said shoespaced behind said first bearing surface, an elongated spring bowedintermediate its ends with portions at opposite ends of the bow engagingsaid backing, said bow projecting outwardly beyond said first bearingsurface whereby the bow and said second bearing surface frictionallyengage said rails, a seat formed on said shoe adjacent one end of saidspring and providing two abutments, one on the outer side of said springfor holding the latter against said backing and the other for engagingsaid spring and preventing endwise sliding thereof in one direction, alug on said shoe adjacent the other end of said spring engag ing theouter side of the spring to urge the latter toward said backing, a bendin said spring projecting outwardly to overlie said lug on the sidethereof closest to said seat, said bend abutting against said lugnormally to prevent endwise sliding of the spring relative to the shoein the other direction, said shoe. being slidable along said track intoa predetermined position in which said lug is adjacent said open trackend and said other end of the spring projects out of the track wherebythe spring is removable from said shoe first by bending said other endinwardly to swing said bend away from said lug and then by exerting anendwise force on said spring.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 including a stop on said track andengageable with said shoe when the latter is in said predeterminedposition to prevent further sliding of the shoe out of the track.

4. The combination defined in claim 2 including a second lug engagingthe inner side of said bow adjacent the ends of the latter to resistendwise sliding of the spring in either direction, said how beingdeformable around said second lug in response to said endwise force.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 in which said lugs are spaced andpositioned to stress said spring and interlock said bend with said firstlug and said bow with said second lug.

6. For use with a closure member slidable in a frame, the combinationof, an elongated track adapted to be mounted on said frame and havingparallel rails opposing each other, an elongated shoe adapted to beconnected to the closure member and disposed between said rails to slideendwise along said track, said shoe providing first and second bearingsurfaces laterally spaced apart and each facing one of said rails, thespacing between said surfaces being less than the spacing between saidrails to permit free sliding of the shoe along said track, a backing onsaid shoe spaced behind said first bearing surface, an elongated springbowed intermediate its ends with portions at opposite ends of the bowengaging said backing, said bow projecting outwardly beyond said firstbearing surface whereby the bow and said second bearing surfacefrictionally engage said rails, said shoe being formed with a slotadjacent one end of said spring opening toward the spring and receivingsaid one end to hold the same against movement laterally of the shoe, afirst lug on said shoe adjacent the other end of said spring and havingone side spaced inwardly from the projecting portion of said bow andengaging the outer side of the spring to hold the latter against saidbacking, a bend in said spring projecting outwardly to overlie said lugon the side thereof closest to said slot, and a second lug comprisingpart of said backing and formed on said shoe intermediate the ends ofsaid how, said second lug having an outer side spaced outwardly fromsaid one side and engaging the inner side of said bow at points spacedfrom arsasee the ends thereof whereby said slot, said bend, and saidlugs cooperate to resist endwise sliding of the spring along said shoe.

7. The combination as defined in claim 6 in which said spring isstressed between said lugs to urge said one end toward said first lugand insure that said bend is interlocked with the first lug.

8. For use with a closure member slidable in a frame, the combinationof, an elongated track adapted to be mounted on said frame and havingparallel rails opposing each other, an elongated shoe adapted to beconnected to the closure member and disposed between said rails to slideendwise along said track, said shoe providing first and second bearingsurfaces laterally spaced apart and each facing one of said rails, thespacing between said surtaces being less than the spacing between saidrails to permit free sliding of the shoe along said track, a backing onsaid shoe spaced behind said first bearing surface, an elongated springbowed intermediate its ends with portions at opposite ends of the bowengaging said backing, said bow projecting outwardly beyond said firstbearing surface whereby the bow and said sec- .ond bearing surfacefrictionally engage said rails, said shoe being formed with a slotadjacent one end of said spring opening toward the spring to receive andhold said one end against movement laterally of the shoe, 2. lug on saidshoe adjacent the other end of the spring and having an inner sideengaging the outer side of the spring, said lug and said slotcooperating to hold said spring against said backing, and a bend in saidspring overlying said lug on the side thereof closest to said slotwhereby the slot and said lug resist endwise sliding of the springrelative to said shoe.

9; A shoe for a sliding closure member including, in

combination, an elongated body having first and second laterally spacedbearing surfaces, a backing on said body spaced behind and facing towardsaid first bearing surface, an elongated spring bowed intermediate itsends with portions at opposite ends of the bow engaging said backingbehind the spring and the intermediate portion of the bow projectingforwardly beyond said first bearing surface for engagement with a guiderail, abutment means on said body adjacent one end of said spring forholding said one end against said backing and resisting endwise slidingof the spring toward said one end while permitting sliding of the springin the opposite direction, and means for holding the spring releasablyagainst endwise sliding in the opposite direction including an abutmentspaced longitudinally along said spring from said abutment means andengaging the forward side of said spring beyond said how at a pointspaced from the other end of the spring with the spring passing betweensaid abutment and said backing and projecting beyond said abutmentwhereby the spring may be removed from said shoe by pulling on saidprojecting end portion and deforming the spring to pass endwise betweensaid abutment and said backing. 7 10. A shoe as defined in claim 9further including two opposed abutments on said backing engaging therear side of said spring intermediate the ends of said how and facinglongitudinally of said spring in opposite directions to prevent endwisesliding of said spring except upon deformation of said spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,763,037 Benton et a1 Sept. 18, 1956

9. A SHOE FOR A SLIDING CLOSURE MEMBER INCLUDING, IN COMBINATION, ANELONGATED BODY HAVING FIRST AND SECOND LATERALLY SPACED BEARINGSURFACES, A BACKING ON SAID BODY SPACED BEHIND AND FACING TOWARD SAIDFIRST BEARING SURFACE, AN ELONGATED SPRING BOWED INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDSWITH PORTIONS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE BOW ENGAGING SAID BACKING BEHINDTHE SPRING AND THE INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF THE BOW PROJECTING FORWARDLYBEYOND SAID FIRST BEARING SURFACE FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH A GUIDE RAIL,ABUTMENT MEANS ON SAID BODY ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID SPRING FOR HOLDINGSAID ONE END AGAINST SAID BACKING AND RESISTING ENDWISE SLIDING OF THESPRING TOWARD SAID ONE END WHILE PERMITTING SLIDING OF THE SPRING IN THEOPPOSITE DIRECTION, AND MEANS FOR HOLDING THE SPRING RELEASABLY AGAINSTENDWISE SLIDING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION INCLUDING AN ABUTMENT SPACEDLONGITUDINALLY ALONG SAID SPRING FORM SAID ABUTMENT MEANS AND ENGAGINGTHE FORWARD SIDE OF SAID SPRING BEYOND SAID BOW AT A POINT SPACED FROMTHE OTHER END OF THE SPRING